RESIDENTS in Killaloe and Ballina can’t use a regional road to travel to Birdhill and Limerick for the next two weeks.
TIPPERARY County Council recently made an order to close a regional road on the outskirts of Ballina to facilitate preliminary works for the Shannon Bridge Crossing project.
Following a public consultation process, the council has decided to close the R494 Ballina to Birdhill Road from 7 am on February 15 to 7pm on March 1.
Traffic travelling to Ballina from Birdhill are advised to use an alternative route by proceeding along the R445 to its junction with R496, continue along the R496 to its junction with R494 and proceed on R494 to access Ballina.
Traffic travelling to Birdhill from Ballina should proceed along R494 to its junction with R496, proceed along R496 to its junction with R445 and drive on the R445 to access Birdhill.
Local access will be facilitated.
Road users in Ballina- and Killaloe should expect delays in the coming weeks due to site clearance works in respect of the Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Bridge Crossing and R494 Improvement Scheme on the R494 between Roolagh junction and the Birdhill Roundabout.
A “Stop-Go” traffic management system commenced on this section of the road on Monday, and will continue until Friday, ahead of the full road closure.
The temporary traffic management system will operate from 8am to 5.30pm to facilitate tree felling and associated works.
Work has already commenced on site clearance works at Ballyvalley and Clarisford, while a number of other advance works contracts are also being progressed including archaeological investigations and further necessary survey works.
Significant progress has been made in completing the land acquisition process with the majority of agreements anticipated to be in place in the coming weeks.
Following review of the detailed design and tender documentation, the council intends going to tender later this year.
Dan Danaher
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.